Chapter 1600: The God King’s Despair
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BOOOMMM!
"What?!"
The spaceship nearest to the Zodiacron city exploded, sending shockwaves through the ground that demolished nearby steel pillars and shook the earth with unprecedented force.
"This can’t be happening! The entire spaceship was destroyed?!"
A flying Tiger Zodiacron, Stryphex, witnessed the explosion. He had come to check on Quick Hare and the others, often called a worrywart by Drakogon, but his fears were now proven justified.
"I must inform Drakogon as quickly as possible!"
A purple and black Gate opened before him. Stryphex leaped through it, and it closed immediately afterward, preventing anyone from sneaking behind him.
CRASH!
Stryphex rushed so swiftly that he crashed into the throne room. Drakogon glared at him, raising an eyebrow. He had yet to finish his dinner, a lavish spread of colorful, exotic ores so costly no citizen could afford them in their lifetime.
"Stryphex, I am in the middle of my meal! What’s the meaning of this sudden arrival? You may be my right hand, but that doesn’t mean you can disrespect me!"
Stryphex felt Drakogon’s immense pressure weighing on his body. The God King’s Divinity was overwhelming, nearly crushing him completely.
If he wished, Drakogon could squash him like an insect!
Yet Stryphex had a compelling reason for his abrupt entrance.
"My lord, this is urgent news!"
"What? What are you talking about?"
"The spaceship over Sector XR... It exploded."
"...What?!"
Drakogon stood, closing his eyes and activating his Divine Eyes to peer across the Zodiacron world. He quickly confirmed Stryphex’s report.
The spaceship he had visited just half an hour ago exploded. Nearly all living beings inside were dead, and worse...
"The Hive Queen’s Daughter died?! Who... Who could have done this?! Did any of you fools kill her? She may be weaker than her mother, but that doesn’t mean we can touch her!"
"We didn’t do anything, my lord!" Stryphex protested.
"I’ve been here the entire time, guarding the door!" Gravox added.
"Then who...?"
Drakogon dropped the goblet of rich oil he was drinking. His face twisted with anger and disbelief as his hands gripped the table tightly, shattering it.
"It was them, wasn’t it?"
"..."
"..."
Stryphex and Gravox exchanged glances, each waiting for the other to answer their God King. Neither dared to speak, knowing his wrath could target either of them.
"ANSWER!"
With a furious roar, Drakogon’s head merged with his dragon-like helmet, transforming into a fully draconic form. Flames erupted as he roared, scorching the surroundings.
"It was most likely them, my lord."
"Yes...!"
CRASH!
Drakogon flipped the table, sending his meal crashing to the floor. The commotion echoed through the temple. His scream of anger and disbelief reverberated, and his fists struck the golden floor, spreading dozens of cracks.
"DAMN IT ALL!"
CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!
RUMBLE!
The temple trembled. The workers inside panicked, fleeing from their God King’s unprecedented fury. For most, this was the first time they had heard him so enraged.
"With one of her two Daughters dead, the Queen will blame me! I cannot let that happen. We must find them and deliver them to her! Deploy as many soldiers as possible. We must capture them and present them to her before her wrath descends upon us!"
"What?! But, my lord, how can we convince them?"
"Do you want me to kill you?"
"N-No...!"
"THEN DO IT! We will blame them for treason! Fabricate any lie, it doesn’t matter! Those fools will believe anything we say. They’ve been raised to be as gullible as rocks!"
"Very well," Stryphex nodded, rushing out of the throne hall.
"My lord, I—" Gravox began, but Drakogon’s glowing red eyes silenced him.
"Do you have something else to say, Gravox? Go and recruit as many soldiers and warriors as possible! Gather them all. We will hunt them down to the ends of this world!"
"Yes, sir...!"
Drakogon was merciless, his plan was both desperate and reckless, but time was short. He feared the Hive Queen’s wrath above all else, knowing that without her aid, he would never have achieved his current position.
"Ever since those bastards arrived, things have only worsened! I should have sealed this world from the Tower instead of allowing Players inside! I thought they could generate extra income, but this idea has clearly backfired!"
As Drakogon grew increasingly agitated, a sharp pain pierced his head.
"Ugh?!"
It was a Psychic Message, so furious it manifested as pain in his mechanical brain.
Drakogon instantly recognized the psychic wave pattern.
It was her.
"Drakogon, what has happened to my second daughter?! Who has...! You did it, didn’t you?!"
"I did not, my Queen! It was them! The intruders who came to this world through the Tower! They allied with a foolish rabbit and a serpent and did it!"
"You’re implying that those weaklings from other worlds, mere snacks we consume, killed my daughter?!"
"I swear it’s the truth, your eminence! Please believe my words!"
"Drakogon, you have 24 hours to prove me wrong! Find them and bring them to me! If you are even a second late, say goodbye to your precious city. We will no longer tolerate you or your kin! This is our world now, and you know it! You helped us seize it, after all!"
"Y-Yes...! I’ve already mobilized troops, anticipating your rage, your majesty. I will find them and deliver them to you as quickly as possible!"
"I am heading there now. My spaceship has finally been repaired. I will bring my first daughter. She is as furious as I am. We will await your offerings, and if you are one second late, Drakogon, your precious cattle will pay! Everything you’ve built, your glorious city, your authority—we will strip it all away!"
"I won’t disappoint you!"
"You’d better not, because I am one thought away from destroying everything we’ve built together, and that would be such a pity...!"
"It surely would be...! Please, believe me!"
"Hmph. Hurry. Time is ticking, Drakogon!"
"Y-Yes!"
The Telepathic Call ended. Drakogon collapsed to his knees, gasping for air. His face was a mess of anger, frustration, and terror.
He had never heard the Hive Queen so furious before. It sent shivers down his spine like nothing ever had.
His hands trembled—he, the God King!
He gritted his teeth in anger, striking the floor once more.
"Damn it, damn it, damn it! I cannot let this end like this! My empire, my people... my position, everything I fought so hard for!"
No, he didn’t truly care for his people as a benevolent leader would. He saw them as mere cattle, accessories and soldiers existing to praise him, to love him, to make him feel important and special.
This was all he ever desired as the leader of all Zodiacrons, the reason he went so far as to kill his older brother with the Hive Queen’s help, betraying him and the other Ancient Heroes, all for the glory of standing above everyone else.
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